UTEP graduation: Things to know for biggest ceremony at Sun Bowl

University to host its biggest commencement to date with 2,800 graduates

If you have a relative graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso Saturday, you're probably excited and ready for their important hand shake with Diana Natalicio.

Remember there will be possibly more than 2,800 other graduates participating in the special single commencement ceremony at the Sun Bowl Stadium. It is the first time since 1998 that the university has one combined ceremony for all colleges.

That means it's the largest graduating class in the university's 100-year history and hundreds of people will be driving to the Sun Bowl that day.

"There's a lot of excitement. I can't wait to see the UTEP musical group escorting the candidates down Glory Road from tunnel to tunnel... we see it in El Paso as the greatest celebration of scholastic achievement. There is nothing bigger," said Beto Lopez, assistant vice president for University Relations.

Lopez said a committee has been working closely and hard to make sure the commencement goes smoothly. Candidates are expected to start arriving as early as 4 p.m. and assemble in the Don Haskins Center.

"We recommend people arrive at least an hour early," he said.

"And (commencements) normally takes about two hours so we're trying to organize ourselves so we have two lines approaching the commencement floor at about the same time."

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Lopez said candidates earning their doctoral degrees will go first (67 possible candidates), followed by people earning their master's (533) and then undergraduates (2,188).

Here's what you need to know, according to UTEP officials, to make getting to the Sun Bowl as smooth as possible.

The spring commencement ceremony will start at 7 p.m. May 17. The gates to the public will open at 5:30 p.m.

Free parking with shuttle service will begin at 4:30 p.m.

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María Cortés González

It will be available on the south end of campus in the P-1, P-2, P-3 and P-4 lots and the Sun Bowl Parking Garage.

The Glory Road Parking Garage will have spaces available for a $10 fee. Guests also may park for free in lots S-3 and S-4 along Sun Bowl Drive near the University Avenue roundabout.

Consider footwear since you might be walking for quite some time to the stadium.

Parking for people with disabilities with shuttle service will begin at 4:30 p.m. in lot R-6, which is near the Helen of Troy softball field.

ADA parking also will be available in lot P-8 near Glory Field.

All four lanes on Sun Bowl Drive and the new roundabout at Glory Road will be open to traffic during the ceremony.

Be aware that Glory Road will close to vehicle traffic at 6 p.m. to allow the procession of candidates.

Candidates will begin to walk from the Don Haskins Center to the Sun Bowl Stadium at 6:15 p.m.

The procession will be lead by the UTEP Marching Miner Regiment.

Guests are asked not to take items such as banners, balloons, noisemakers, glass containers, tripods, coolers and strollers.

Sun Bowl concession stands with items such as hamburgers, pizza, nachos and hot dogs will be open during the ceremony.

If you decide to stay home and just catch the festivities, you can still see the ceremony online.

Channel 14-KFOX will be livestreaming the ceremony. To view it, go to utep.edu or elpasotimes.com.